Question

How do you convert 13,220 to scientific notation?

Answer 1

`1.3220 xx 10^4`

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Scientific notation is just a way to express big or small numbers in a nicer-looking way. We write something like

`602214130000000000000000`

as

`6.0221413 xx 10^23`

or

`0.00000000000012`

as

`1.2 xx 10^(-13)`

by tacking on a "`xx 10^(??)`" to avoid writing out a bunch of zeros. All you have to do is write your number to be between `1` and `9.99` or so, and then use `10^(??)` to get it back to how it was originally.

`13220 = color(blue)(1.3220 xx 10^4)`

Because

`1.3220 xx 10^4 = 1.3220 xx 10000`

`= 13.220 xx 1000`

`= 132.20 xx 100`

`= 1322.0 xx 10`

`= 13220`